The Mayan Riviera for a Fun Family Getaway

If you are looking for a tropical getaway with the family, the Mayan Riviera is a wonderful option. It is located on the east coast of Mexico and spans an area moving south from Cancun. The resorts are generally quite large with multiple dining options, entertainment, miles of white sandy beaches, a number of pools and many activities to keep your family occupied.

Many families opt to book a vacation with a resort that is geared towards families, like Beaches Resorts, Breezes and Club Med. These are great options and include lots of activities for kids, babysitting services and day care. We stayed at Azul Beach Hotel on our last trip and were thoroughly impressed with what they had to offer, including 24-hour room service, beach butlers and gourmet cuisine.

It is worth it when you stay on the Mayan Riviera to experience some of the amazing Mayan ruins. Depending on where you are there are many locations that accept visitors. Remember to consider the weather (heat) and amount of walking involved when you visit the ruins. Bring a baby carrier for infants and note that most places are not stroller accessible. Make sure to pack lots of water and snacks and leave early in the morning.

A wonderful park to explore with the kids on the Mayan cost is Xcaret Park. It is an ecological park where you can not only see the ruins, but they have shows, demonstrations, a lazy river, hammocks, snorkelling, and swimming with the dolphins. It’s a great park for families and helps you get away from the resort for a change.

Playa del Carmen is a beach city with lots of shopping. If you are in the need to get away from the resort, this is a nice place to visit. Over the years the shopping has become rather expensive there, but the food and beach is still exquisite. There are also many shopping options in Cancun. You can have the hotel concierge arrange a taxi to take you into town to some of the many outlet shopping malls. Adults can enjoy the night life there as well.

When planning a trip to a tropical location with the family, it is important to ensure you keep your child’s schedule similar to what it is at home. Plan your day according to when your child normally takes naps. Head to the pool or beach for the morning and then take a mid-day break after lunch. This will ensure that dinner time goes smoothly.

Here are some of my parent tips for surviving a resort vacation with kids.

Parent Tips:

• If you have a picky eater, try asking for substitutions on the menu at restaurants. Most places will accommodate kids.
• Ask what the resort offers for children like strollers, cribs, foot stools, etc.
• Find out ahead of time what activities or sports the resort has for children.
• Use gate check-in for your stroller at the airport and ask about bulk seats on the plane so you can have more room with the kids.
• Take along pool and beach toys.
• Consider bringing a portable DVD player with your kids’ favourite movies for a family movie night at the resort.

Remember to always be safe and enjoy your vacation!

Rachna Clavero lives in Canada and is a busy mom of three boys. She writes about fun family ideas including vacations, local attractions, toys, games, crafts and more on her blog The Fun Family Site.

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Hi! I'm Shannon Hurst DalPozzal, founder and creator of Traveling Mamas. I launched this site in 2008 to share travel experiences and tips by and for adventurers just like you. Thank you for stopping by and I hope you find this site helpful as you explore this beautiful world! Get Inspired…